The BJP's southern citadel is collapsing

When the BJP came to power in Karnataka in 2008, none of its leaders thought that the man, who single-handedly took the party to the victory podium, would herald its downfall in an inglorious fashion within three years.

The BJP may be ruling Karnataka for now, with occasional setbacks. But there are clear indications that it is neither formidable nor well prepared to face the next elections with former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa threatening to split the party. Going ahead, the BJP will find it difficult to hold the flock together with several top leaders planning to quit the party and join Yeddyurappa.

The problem for the BJP started with the unceremonious exit of Yeddyurappa and the Bellary Reddy brothers from the government following their indictment by the Lokayukta in the mining scam. Both leaders spent considerable time in the jail. After Yeddyurappa came out of the jail, he became a pariah for the BJP national leaders because of the serious charges against him.

It seems that L K Advani and Nitin Gadkari have forgotten the role of Yeddyurappa in the BJP's phenomenal performance in the 2008 Assembly polls. Their deliberate ignoring of Yeddyurappa was a blessing in disguise for other BJP leaders, particularly Ananth Kumar and Karnataka BJP unit president K S Eshwarappa, who were taking advantage of the situation.

Yeddyurappa's repeated demands for the CM's post or the party's state president post were stonewalled in Delhi as well as Karnataka. This prompted Eshwarappa, who was waiting for an opportunity, to assert his position in the BJP. Incidentally, Eshwarappa has been the most vocal critic of Yeddyurappa's demand for the CM's post.

Eshwarappa cannot afford to work independently without the support of Yeddyurappa because both hail from the same district (Shimoga). But it is too late for Eshwarappa. Yeddyurappa has opened the Pandora's Box for the BJP by launching a tirade against him. This is the first time in the last three decades that Yeddyurappa has castigated his friend-turned-foe before the media.

Both Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa have been instrumental in building the BJP in the state. However, much of the credit of goes to the former, who networked with the powerful Lingayat Mutts, created a sympathy wave for the BJP, and brought the party to power. Even now, for the Lingayats (the single largest community in Karnataka), Yeddyurappa is their undisputed leader.

To make matters worse, Yeddyurappa not only held Eshwarappa responsible for his exit from the CM's post but also for his brief stint in the jail. Yeddyurappa is not a leader, who can hold on to secrets, for long. He has already put Eshwarappa in the dock; it will not take him long to take on the other BJP leaders, who ditched him.

His revelations have already spread like wildfire among the Lingayat Mutts, which are seriously upset with Eshwarappa. In effect, the Lingayat Mutts are no more interested in Yeddyurappa continuing with the BJP. There is no guarantee that the Lingayats will vote for the BJP in the absence of Yeddyurappa.

He may sound desperate, but Yeddyurappa is definitely not taking any unwise steps. Every move is carefully orchestrated with a long term goal, if his aides are to be believed.

The strategy is to project to the electorate that Yeddyurappa has been victimised for the second time. If the Janata Dal (Secular) ditched him in 2007 by not handing over the CM's baton to him, this time, it is the BJP, which is denying him his rights.

The indications are clear that Yeddyurappa is on his way out. If it happens, it can be a deadly blow for the BJP in the state. In the 2008 Assembly polls, Yeddyurappa had handpicked the candidates, who are now ministers and MLAs. Most of them joined the BJP by deserting the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular).

In the absence of Yeddyurappa and his supporters, the BJP will lose an important support structure, which is critical in the next Assembly elections. Ministers Umesh Katti, C M Udasi, M P Renukacharya, Lakshman Savadi, Revunaik Belamaggi, Basavaraja Bommai, Murugesh Nirani, Balachandra Jharkiholi, V Somanna and C C Patil are rallying behind Yeddyurappa. If the BJP loses these leaders, it will impact the party at the grassroots level across the state.

Even as the BJP is disintegrating in Karnataka, the national leaders seem oblivious to the development because elections are still 17 months away. However, going by the quick developments, a midterm poll cannot be ruled out.

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This monument truly takes the cake

A 12 ft tall, 16 ft wide cake in the form of Bijapur's Gol Gumbaz.Christmas and New Year celebrations are always eagerly awaited in Bangalore. There is invariably a party atmosphere in the city. Adding to the revelry is the annual cake exhibition.

The festival is usually held at this time of the year and it invariably draws huge number of participants and visitors. Each year, the exhibition has one special attraction. The highlight of this year's exhibition was the famous historical monument Bijapur - the Gol Gumbaz - made up of sugar, honey and nuts.

The cake measured 12 feet in height and 16.5 feet in width. It took 30 bakers around 50 days to bake the 5 ton Gol Gumbaz.

Once 2012 sets in, the organisers will cut the cake and distribute it to orphanages and charitable trusts.

In addition to the Gol Gumbaza, there were several other attractions, such as, scale models of Formula Cars, large container vessels, Barbie dolls and teddy bears, all in the form of cake! The cake expo is being held for a record 37th year and there seems to be no stopping.

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He sparked a row even in death

Late S Bangarappa.Former chief minister S Bangarappa may be dead; but his sons are engaged in a bitter fight for control of their father's wealth and legacy. Unfortunately, their fight has spilled on to the streets of Shimoga.

Bangarappa's sons - Kumar and Madhu - cannot stand each. An actor-turned-politician, Kumar joined the Congress when his father was there.

He went on to become a minister in the S M Krishna government. But when Bangarappa quit the party, he refused to follow suit.

For over 12 years, Kumar has been with the Congress while his father continued to switch parties. Bangarappa, who was disappointed with Kumar, forced his younger son Madhu into politics. Madhu earned his father's affection by following him everywhere.

The brothers' rivalry reached a flashpoint when they contested against each other in the 2008 Assembly polls from Soraba. Both lost. One day after Bangarappa's cremation, Madhu's supporters stopped Kumar from visiting the cremation ground leading to an ugly fracas.

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With Congress heading nowhere because of factionalism, its leader Siddaramaiah decided to undergo complete body rejuvenation. He checked into one of the renowned Ayurveda therapy centres in Dakshina Kannada district. Overnight, he became a sensation at the spa with other visitors wanting to meet and greet him. An overjoyed Siddaramaiah not only posed for pictures with them, but also regaled them with funny incidents of top politicians. In fact, the leader is known for his sense of humour. The visitors even threw a grand party for him.

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Hapless Congress gets foxed yet again

Karnataka BJP workers celebrate CM D V Sadananda Gowda's victory.The Congress was left in the lurch once again after 26 MLAs of the Janata Dal (Secular) abstained from voting in the crucial election to the Legislative Council, in effecting facilitating Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda's easy victory last week.

Sadananda Gowda secured 123 votes while the rival Congress candidate Anand G bagged 69 votes. Of the 199 votes polled, 7 were declared invalid. The Congress was banking on the JD(S) votes to put up a strong fight in the election. But the party's plans went awry. It was clear that the BJP and JD(S) had entered into a secret pact to ensure Gowda's victory, and Congress had failed to read it. Former CM B S Yeddyurappa's phone call to JD(S) supreme leader H D Deve Gowda had cemented the deal.

Yeddyurappa and Deve Gowda cannot stand each other with the former holding the latter responsible for his ouster. But the two appear to have patched up. Neither of them is criticising the other in the media or on any platform.

In the process, Congress, which has already lost its moorings, got further alienated. Party leaders are left pondering about their future.